Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
[Quomodo nix in æstate, et pluviæ in messe, sic indecens est stulto gloria.
2 As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
Sicut avis ad alia transvolans, et passer quolibet vadens, sic maledictum frustra prolatum in quempiam superveniet.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
Flagellum equo, et camus asino, et virga in dorso imprudentium.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Ne respondeas stulto juxta stultitiam suam, ne efficiaris ei similis.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Responde stulto juxta stultitiam suam, ne sibi sapiens esse videatur.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
Claudus pedibus, et iniquitatem bibens, qui mittit verba per nuntium stultum.
7 The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Quomodo pulchras frustra habet claudus tibias, sic indecens est in ore stultorum parabola.
8 As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii, ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem.
9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Quomodo si spina nascatur in manu temulenti, sic parabola in ore stultorum.
10 A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
Judicium determinat causas, et qui imponit stulto silentium iras mitigat.
11 As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
Sicut canis qui revertitur ad vomitum suum, sic imprudens qui iterat stultitiam suam.
12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
Vidisti hominem sapientem sibi videri? magis illo spem habebit insipiens.]
13 The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
[Dicit piger: Leo est in via, et leæna in itineribus.
14 [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
Sicut ostium vertitur in cardine suo, ita piger in lectulo suo.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
Abscondit piger manum sub ascella sua, et laborat si ad os suum eam converterit.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
Sapientior sibi piger videtur septem viris loquentibus sententias.]
17 He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
[Sicut qui apprehendit auribus canem, sic qui transit impatiens et commiscetur rixæ alterius.
18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
Sicut noxius est qui mittit sagittas et lanceas in mortem,
19 so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
ita vir fraudulenter nocet amico suo, et cum fuerit deprehensus dicit: Ludens feci.
20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
Cum defecerint ligna extinguetur ignis, et susurrone subtracto, jurgia conquiescent.
21 [As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
Sicut carbones ad prunas, et ligna ad ignem, sic homo iracundus suscitat rixas.
22 The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Verba susurronis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris.
23 Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile, sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
Labiis suis intelligitur inimicus, cum in corde tractaverit dolos.
25 when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Quando submiserit vocem suam, ne credideris ei, quoniam septem nequitiæ sunt in corde illius.
26 Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
Qui operit odium fraudulenter, revelabitur malitia ejus in consilio.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
Qui fodit foveam incidet in eam, et qui volvit lapidem revertetur ad eum.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Lingua fallax non amat veritatem, et os lubricum operatur ruinas.]
